A new report on the status of U.S. seniors ranks Nebraska 14th among the states, moving down one spot from 2023.

Nationally, the "America's Health Rankings 2024 Senior Report" showed improvements in the percentages of U.S. seniors with high-speed internet, and a lower early death rate between the ages of 65 and 74. However, it showed more older adults are seeing economic challenges, from poverty and food insecurity to housing cost burdens.

Rod Horsley, executive director of the South Central Nebraska Area Agency on Aging in Kearney, said it comes as no surprise, as many people come to their Aging and Disability Resource Center for help applying for public benefits.

"Low-income energy assistance, the SNAP program, Medicaid in general, assistance in paying for medications," Horsley outlined. "The other thing that we do see is people that have issues with paying for food."

On the reach of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program -- the percentage of those 60 and older living in poverty who receive benefits -- Nebraska ranks 39th among states.

Horsley pointed out affordable housing for seniors is also a huge problem in their 14-county area.

One of the bright spots, Horsley noted, is the number of Nebraskans who are good neighbors and willing to help. He said the senior center in Comstock is a great example.

"They have done outreach to people out in the country, taking meals to Sargent, Nebraska," Horsley explained. "Those people wouldn't otherwise get a meal if it wasn't for the senior center director and volunteers there that are willing to drive out, 10 miles into the country, to ensure that this person has a meal."

Nebraska ranks 13th in the report for the percentage of seniors who volunteer.

Dr. Rhonda Randall, chief medical officer and executive vice president of UnitedHealthcare Employer and Individual, called the report a "call to action," and said many U.S. seniors lost ground socioeconomically between 2021 and 2022.

"This year, we saw poverty increase 6% nationally," Randall emphasized. "We also saw the housing cost burden rise 3% nationally. That means 741,000 additional households where older adults live are struggling with their housing costs."

Almost 11% of seniors nationwide were living in poverty in 2022. In Nebraska, the percentage was 9.2%, a 28% increase since 2017.

A bill in the Maryland General Assembly would regulate cryptocurrency kiosks, the more than 700 ATM-like machines for virtual currencies around the state.

The FBI received more than 4,400 complaints about the kiosks in 2023, according to a report on cryptocurrency scams. Nearly 60% of complaints came from people over the age of 60.

The legislation would establish registration and operating requirements for the kiosks in the state, enforced by the Commissioner for Financial Regulation.

Tammy Bresnahan, senior director of advocacy for AARP Maryland, said crypto kiosks have become a new way for scammers to target people.

"These kiosks have become a haven for scammers to call people to say, 'There's a problem with your account. You need to take money -- $4,500 in cash -- and deposit it into this nearby cryptocurrency kiosk because your account has been compromised,'" Bresnahan explained.

The total losses from cryptocurrency kiosks in 2023 exceeded $150 million.

The FBI advised no legitimate law enforcement or government agency would call or message demanding payment with a cryptocurrency. Bresnahan pointed out one of the issues with kiosks is they are not required to provide a user a receipt for their transaction, making them hard to track.

"Operators must clearly disclose transaction fees and exchange rates," Bresnahan urged. "And there has to be some kind of receipt. It doesn't have to be a printed receipt, but it has to be some kind of detailed receipt, whether it's on the system or whether it comes out printed. Because, right now, when you put money in there, you don't get anything."

Other states, like Minnesota and Vermont, have already passed legislation regulating virtual currency kiosks.

A local "Meals on Wheels" organization is forging ahead with an event to provide meals and personal care items to seniors in four Illinois counties, despite the looming uncertainty about federal funding helping to run the programs.

"March for Meals" brings community members and elected officials together, who volunteer to deliver and serve nutritious meals to seniors in Cook, Grundy, Kendall and Will counties.

Caitlin Wilson, manager of the Schaumburg Community Café, said they also help pack care bags to deliver to those who are homebound.

"Just to know that they're not alone," Wilson explained. "That we are here and they're not left just at home, that we are thinking about them."

Nationally, March for Meals commemorates the Older Americans Act and the funding it provides for nutrition programs for people in their 60s and older. The Illinois March for Meals event is March 31 at the Schaumburg Community Café.

Seniors make up about 22% of Illinois' population. Many statewide programs, including Meals on Wheels, rely on federal funding to keep running.

Every five years, Congress needs to reauthorize the Older Americans Act. The last time it happened was in 2020 and the funding expired in Sept. 2024. Wilson said the need is clear, even if its future is unclear under the new administration.

"We have seniors that come that this is their only source of socialization and even nutrition," Wilson pointed out. "It's definitely important that we continue our goal in the community, because we have those seniors that really depend on these programs."

Wilson added events like these are crucial to raising awareness about the need for senior services, and this year, the additional challenge of potential federal funding cuts.

"It's definitely a huge program and it is a huge impact, with the seniors not sure what's going on and what's going to happen," Wilson emphasized. "But we are here and it's important that we stay here."

Michigan is home to more than 470,000 veterans, yet many have never accessed the military benefits to which they are entitled. The gap in support prompted a local war veteran to take action.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, nearly 200 Michigan veterans died by suicide, well above the state's average, and the number is growing.

Joshua Parish, president of the nonprofit service organization VETLIFE and an Iraq War veteran, is working to change it. His organization, which started in 2018, provides veterans with sustainable resources, free events and community support to help them navigate civilian life. Parish said one of their flagship events called VetFest attracts more than 3,000 people at each event.

"We have 60 resource providers that help connect the dots," Parish explained. "What we're seeing is one month after the VetFest event, a 60% increase in veterans going down to their local resources, which is what we want."

Parish emphasized his main goal is to educate and empower veterans to be their own best advocate. He believes by doing so, it will decrease the veteran suicide rate.

More than 8 million U.S. veterans are 65 and older, nearly half of the veteran population. Many face isolation, depression and struggles transitioning to civilian life, even decades later. As a veteran, Parish has battled mental health challenges himself. He added many feel a loss of purpose and betrayed by the government they once served.

"If you can give these veterans or help cultivate the sense of purpose, the sense of identity, and just make them feel like a person again, I feel like that's going to drastically reduce the veterans' suicide rate," Parish contended.

Many veterans rely on VA pensions, Social Security or disability benefits, making it crucial for them to know and access the resources they have earned.